IMG's will be prohibited from obtaining residency outside the match

[cabrits]

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Hello,

Here is a link to a recent update on NRMP's policy regarding IMG's and the Match 2004. With many of this board's participants being IMGs, I thought it would be of some interest..

<a href="http://www.nrmp.org/about_nrmp/new_policies.html" target="_blank">http://www.nrmp.org/about_nrmp/new_policies.html</a>

After you read it, i was wondering if anyone else was thinking about the serious repercussions of this change to their policy. specifically:

1. the article states that "independent applicants" (i.e. those not sponsored by a u.s. school), can only get a position through the match.

2. does this mean that if an IMG registered, but was unable to match into anything, that they are excluded from "scrambling" to try to obtain a position?

3. does this mean that if they didn't match, they have to wait out an entire year, so they can participate in next year's match?

4. what about all the ghetto programs that no U.S. student would even dream of ranking. these programs always go unfilled. they rely on IMGs to fill their spots. if they can only offer positions to "independent applicants" via the match, what's going to happen when they go unfilled yet again? will they be forced to close down the program or something?

any non-speculative information is appreciated.

thanks!

 

[Stormreaver]

One thing that many USMGs are not aware of is that IMGs when they appear for an interview, are often offered contracts "outside the match", also known as "Pre-Match offers". In essence it works this way-- when I interview, either the PD or the coordinator puts a contract in front of me and asks me to sign, or calls me up or emails me a few days later asking whether I'd be interested in signing with them. Now a lot of IMGs, who're desperately seeking a position, welcome the security of a prematch contract and sign at any place they like, or even any palce that offers it. However, this may result in them signing at a less than ideal place. Also, with the increased visa processing times this year, a number of programs were filling all their position pre-match, and withdrew from the Match altogether, or sent a token 1 or 2 seats through the match. I believe it is this practice that the NRMP wants to ban, not the Scramble.

As to what impact this will have, for one, with the recent changes in J1 waiver policy and the premium processing of H1 visas available, the number of programs offering H1s will increase. They might offer a verbal or written "agreement" with a candidate for mutual matching. The programs will find some way through it.

The way I saw this situation was that the programs need residents (rather warm bodies to do the scutwork) as much as the IMGs need the programs. The programs will continue to try to secure good-quality IMGs outside the match, especially those whom they think they will never be able to get through the Match.

I'll write a better thought-through follow-up a little later.

 

[navs]

IF u read that section in the article CAREFULLY stating to some extent: "programs participating in the match must fill all their seats in the match". That is a BIG LOOPHOLE STILL!!

Most of the big prematch places fill most of their spots through the prematch and have quotas of only a couple in the match. U can figure out what they will do now using simple logic. All they will do is pull out the few quota seats and NOT participate in the match at all, electing to go COMPLETELY outside the match, mainly through prematches and the remaining through postmatch (scramble).

This won't change anything.

Good luck.

 

[Stormreaver]

•••quote:•••All they will do is pull out the few quota seats and NOT participate in the match at all, electing to go COMPLETELY outside the match, mainly through prematches and the remaining through postmatch (scramble).
••••Yup-- exactly. In fact, 2 of the programs I interviewed at did exactly that-- they offered me a prematch, and when I told them I preferred to go through the Match, they said that they weren't going through the Match. That trend is likely to be exacerbated.

•••quote:•••This won't change anything.••••Well, I don't agree totally. What it will do is force the programs which fill with a mix of IMGs and USMGs or those with substantial numbers of Caribbean grads to rethink whether they want to move to the all-prematch zone or elect to stay in the match. What we might see depends on how many programs choose to take which road-- in the one case increasing numbers of IMGs going through the Match, or on the other hand, only those looking for more competitive residencies procceding to the match, and the others signing prematch.

Just my 1.2 Rupees.
SR